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deflater

1 7.5

Someone who makes other people feel less confident

noun
/dɪˈfleɪtər/

: desmotivador

Her negative comments made her the deflater of the team's excitement before the big game.

Examples

Every group has a deflater who always points out what could go wrong.
She is such a deflater at parties.
Instead of being a deflater, try to support your friends' ambitions.
Why do you always act like a deflater?
His constant criticism was a real deflater for her confidence.
Nobody likes a deflater who always points out the negatives.
The manager's harsh feedback acted as a deflater for the team's morale.

Synonyms

dampener

vsdeflater

1 4.6

Something that makes people feel less excited

lowers others' pride or confidence rather than event intensity

discourager

vsdeflater

1 5.3

Something that makes a person lose confidence and not want to try

reduces pride or confidence broadly rather than only stopping action

dampener for morale

vsdeflater

6.6

A thing that makes people feel less confident or excited

targets people's pride or confidence rather than general group spirit

Antonyms

encourager

1 2.7

A person who supports others and makes them feel confident

How Demoralizing

shamer

1 8.1

detractor

32 7.1

deflater

1 7.5

critic

553 3.0

spoilsport

Offensive

3 6.5

Surface Forms

deflater singular

deflaters plural

Morphology

deflater = deflate (semi-transparent) = deflate + er

Built from the figurative sense 'deflate' + agentive '-er'; the formation is regular but the figurative sense may be unfamiliar to some learners.

Etymology

Deflater comes from de- 'down' or 'remove' and flate as in inflate 'to fill with air'. A deflater is someone who 'lets the air out' of other people's pride or excitement, which is why it means a person who reduces confidence or enthusiasm.